Weft feeding mechanism



March 28, 1950 J. ZERBEE 2,501,982

WEFT FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March 24, 1947 ZSheets-Sheet l 4,492 a T Toe/v5 v March 28, 1950 ZERBEE 2,501,982

WEFT FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIFI ll lll' Elm-e2, r I @7046 28 he Eyi Z INVENTOR.

/JTTOE/VEV viewed in Figure 6, at which time the pawl I02 engages the ratchet teeth I04 upon the toothed wheel 12, so as to feed the wire 50 through the crimping wheels and 12 to crimp the wire, as clearly shown in Figure 6.

In order to prevent overthrow of the wheels 10 and 12, a spring-urged toothed member I50, best seen in Figure 6, pivoted at IE2, is springurged against the teeth on member 12 by means of a tension spring I54, so as to tend to arrest the movement of the wheel 12. Any other suitable brake or stop mechanism may be used. The correct length of wire is fed out by the rocker arm through the weft wire feeding device.

Due to the fact that the wire 50 has a certain degree of resiliency, it can readily be seen that in advancing across the shed, the end of the wire would droop or sag, so as to engage the lower warp wires. In order to overcome this difficulty, the end of the wire 50 is guided across the shed by a wire guiding mechanism, which will now be described.

On the right hand side of the loom, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a tubular needle-like member I mounted for reciprocatory movement across the shed when it is open.

This needle-like member I60 is secured to a toothed rack I02 that reciprocates across the shed when the shed is open. This rack I62 is provided with a pair of grooves I64 and I66, one above and one below the rack bar I68. A pair of guiding members I10 and I12 are positioned in the grooves I64 and I66, so as to form guides for the rack bar I68. The guide members I10 and I12 are fixedly attached upon a pair of rails I80 and I82 that are in turn attached to the angle irons 30 and 32. The guides I10 and I12 cause the rack bar I68 to travel in a straight path, so as to feed the needle-like member I60 across the shed from one side to the otherand back again when the shed is open by a driving mechanism, which will now be described.

The rack bar I68 is driven by a gear I90 keyed to a shaft I92 journalled in bearings I94 and I96 secured to a plate I98 fixedly attached to a plate 200 attached by T-bars 202 and 204 secured to the angle bars 32 and 30 respectively. The lower end of the shaft I92 has keyed thereto a bevelled gear 2 I 0 meshing with a bevelled gear 2 I2, as best seen in Figure 1. The bevelled gear 2I2 is keyed to a shaft 2 I4, having mounted thereon a pinion 2 I6 and a cam 2I8, similar to the pinions I20 and I22 secured to the shaft H4. The cam 2 I8 contacts a cam surface 220 and the pinion 2 I6 is aligned with the rack 222 fixedly secured to the frame of the loom. It can readily be seen that when the frame I4 of the beater swings from the full line position to the dotted position shown in Figure 4, the needle-like member I60 is projected from the position shown in Figure 1 into the posi-- tion shown in Figure 2'. While in this position the wire 50 that has already beencrimped and extending through the conduit-224 is projected into the aperture in the hollow needle-like member I60, which needle-like member leads or guides the end of the weft wire across the shed.

When the beater begins to swing from the dotted position shown in Figure 4 towards the full line position, the wire-crimping and feeding device feeds the wire across the shed formed by the warp wires 230. The gear ratio has been so selected that the wire feeds across the shed at a higher velocity than the retraction of the needlelike member I60, so that as the weft wire passes through the shed, the end of the wire advances slowly into the needle-like member I60. However, when the weft wire feeding and crimping device comes to a stop, the needle-like member I60 has not come to the end of its retractive stroke. Thus, the needle-like member I60, upon being retracted, clears the weft wire before it reaches the home position shown in Figure 1. The stop 232, carried by the cross bar 234, spanning the distance between the rails I and I82, functions as a stop for the rack bar I68. The stop 232 may include a rubber pad, not shown, to cushion the shock.

After the weft wire has been fed into position, it is severed by the shears 236 that move up into severing position by a mechanism not shown in this application, but fully shown and described in the above referred to patent.

In spite of the fact that the toothed wheel, or crimping wheel 12, is arrested in its movement, and the ends of the weft wires shown to the right of the screen or woven wire mesh cloth should all be equal in length, due to the overthrow or coasting effect, the ends are somewhat irregular in length. A suitable cutter 240, attached to the rotor shaft 242 of the motor 244, is used to trim the irregular ends of the weft wire. The cutter 240 may consist of a grinding wheel or any other suitable cutting material.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A weft wire crimping and feeding device for use in a loom having a heater having a reciprocatory movement, said weft wire crimping and feeding device including a pair of Wire crimping wheels; means for rotating the wheels during the initial advance movement of the beater of the loom; means for arresting the movement of the crimping wheels before the beater reaches the advanced position; supporting means for loosely supporting the end of the weft wire as it advances across the warp wires during the feeding operation; and means for actuating the supporting means in response to movement of the heater.

2. A weft wire crimping and feeding device for use in a loom having a beater frame having a reciprocatory movement, said weft wire crimping and feeding device including a pair of wire crimping wheels; mechanism for rotating the wheels during the initial advance movement of the beater frame of the loom, said mechanism including an arcuate rack member fixedly mounted upon the loom, a pinion carried upon the beater frame and mounted in the path of the arcuate rack member having teeth, so that when the pinion engages the teeth of the arcuate rack member it is rotated,

and means responding to the rotation of thepinion for actuating the crimpin wheels; means for arresting the movement of the crimping wheels before the beater frame reaches the adems- 9 vancect; n sit onz- .supportingsmeanseforr loosely? unportingrthe. end orthelweft wirezaszit advances;

across: -.the;-warp.wir.es; during. the; feeding operas tiring; and means; for; actuating the. supporting; means; in response to; movement.- f: he ell' frame;

A :weft wireerimpingrandi feeding; devicefor: use-in; a. loom havingas beater frame having: a1.

reciprocatory; movement,..said weft, wire crimping;

advances across. the warp wires; during; the. feed ing operation, actuatingzmeans fen-saiwsupporte ing-means, .said. actuating. meanszincluding. atrackg fixedlvmounteduponthe loom; aipinion mounted; upon the beater frame. in the; path-,of'thegracle- 8052151130 cause the pinion to berotated whemthe; pinion is in engagement with the rack and mean responding to the rotation. of the pinion fQr-actu.-- at'ing: the supporting means.

4.. Aweft wirecrimping and feeding; device-for. use inia 100m having. a beater: frame having an reciprocatory'move-ment, said weft Wire crimping.- and'feeding. device including a. pair of;wirepcr.imp-. ing wheels; mechanism". for rotatinggvthe wheels during the initial advance movementof the beater: frame of the. loom, .saidmechanismincluding an arcuate rackmember. fixedly: mounted. upon the:

100m, a pinion carried uponthe beater frameanct. mquntedin thepath of the arcuaterackmember having teeth, so that when. the. pinionengageS the teeth of the arcuate ra'ckzmemher-it is'rotatem, andmeans. responding to. the rotation of. the;. pinion for actuating. the. crimping wheels means. for arresting the movement of the; crimping; wheels. before the beater; frame reaches the ad..-

vanced" position; supporting means for: looselys'.

supportingthe end of the weft Wire as itiadvance's.v across the warp. wiresduring the feeding opera? tion; a second'rac-k; a;seeond1pinionyandmeanss catory; movement, said. Weft; wire, crimping; and.

feeding: device including a pair-of wire.- crimping;- wheels; means. for rotating the wheels during the: initial advance movement of: the beater; Of, the loom; said means including-a rocker-arm,- aapawl.. carried; by. the rockerv arm; for engaging; one of;

andtmeans nesponding to, theirotationeontheipine: ion for actuating the crimping wheelstqsaiddastfimentioned means includingza-rocker arm andla pawliimounted upoxrthe rocker arm-for engaging? onew'of; the crimpingzwheels to.-rotate.the:-:crimp.

ing wheels;ingonedirection; means-tier. arresting;

thmmevementzofg the crimping: wheels; before: the r beatenframe reaches the advanced-iposition;,supporting; means; for loosely: .supportingzthe end of; theswef-tiwinezas;it;,advances lacrossgthe warp wires. during the: feeding: operation; and: meansrvforr aetuatingrthe'supporting means. in response to.

mnvementzofithez beater:

7.3 Aewefti wirecrimping: and feeding devicerfon" ruse in a loom having a beater frameehavingma reoiprocatory; movement, said :weft.:.wire crimping andzfeedingdevieeincluding apairofxwire crimp? inm wheels; means .fonrotating: the-:- Wheels: dura inge. the; initial advances movement: of; the heaters. frame of .th'ec-loom: .saidrmeans includingra rocker? arm; a: pawl ecarriedzby'sthes rocker arm: for "engage ingzonewfithe :crimpingawheels', means for.- arrest. ing tlfe- -movementz. of the crimping wheels before: the heaters: reaches l the. advanced position; $11131 porting means for-loosely 'supportingthexend of the weft iwire aszitsadvances.across the warp wires during thetfeedin'g operation; actuating means -for sa-idi supporting means, said actuating means in-.

' eluding: arack-fixedlymountediupon the loom;

and

the: crimping: wheels, means; for; arresting. the; movement: of; the; crimping Wheels; before theduring the initial advanceymovementof. the beater frame-of; the: loom,- said. mechanism ineluding an. arcuate. rackmember fixedly. mounteduponwthe; loom a pinionearriedupon the, beater-frame and; mguntedinthelpathof the arcuaterack;v member: havingrteeth so that when the:pinionaengagesntheg teeth: of. the arcuate; rack. membenaitz is; rotatedaipinion mounted upon'-.=tlie.-beaten frame in thezpath of the rack having. teeth-so as tozcause the pinion to: ber0tatediwhenatheipinionziszin engagementlawith the teeth of: thei.ra;ck; and: means!"- responding to the :rotatiomof: the pinion for actual ating the supportinggmeans.

Aitweftwirecrimping;andifeeding: deviceiforcuse in awloom having. a heater frame'having-sat.

of-itheJoom; said-:means includingsa rockervarm, a ,pawl ca-rried' by :the rocker arm f0! engagingone offithererimpingwheels, means :for arresting .the *movement of "tha-erimping wheels: before the:

beater frame reachesxtheiiadvanced positiom" supporting means for;loosely supporting the end ofcthe wef-t f wireas :itvadvances across the warp wires'wduringrthesfeeding. operation,. a rack havmgr-teeth; said rackfbeinggzfixedly. mounted? upon; the-loom, a pinion: mounted upon. the. beater" framennthe path of fthe rack sowas to..cause.the:

loosely::supportingxtheeendzaof the weft wire zassit'i advancessiacrosssthe warpmires.

QiAtweftafeeding.devicezformseinialoomrhavs ingr a heaters-frameshaving-1a reciprocatory-movee ment:.said weft'lfeeding device. including. acrockertr arm; a'.:-pawlr.earried byEthearQcken-arm; wire-femgagingefeedingnmeam;:actuated-.by the pawl, and;- means for oscillatingiithel rocker arm; said-last" mentionedmeans-responding to .thereciprocatory i movement. of the-beater frame "for'oscillatingthe rocker -arm.-.

10:. Aiaweft'wirerfeedingl-device for use'in a" loom having-*abteater; frame having. a reciprocatory;

movement; saidxrweft .feeding-wdevice: including, :a': -"rocl;er1:arm;-.a paw-l carried-why the rocker arm,

wires engaging feedingg: meansr actuated. by the pawl; meanscfor :oscillati-ng; therockerrarm, said;

lasts; mentioned. .means responding ;to the: recip rocator-y movement .ofaithe beater: frame for 0 611:

latmg the rocker-arm; andmeans :for; loosely; sup

porting the end of the weft wire as it is fed across the warp wires.

11. A weft wire feeding device for use in a loom having a beater frame having reciprocatory movement, said weft feeding device including actuating mechanism having an arcuate rack member fixedly mounted upon the loom, a pinion carried upon the beater frame and mounted in the path of the arcuate rack member having teeth so that when the pinion engages the teeth of the arcuate rack member it is rotated, means for engaging the weft wire for feeding same across the warp Wires, and means responding to the rotation of the pinion for actuating the wire feeding means. I

12. A weft wire feeding device for use in a loom having a beater frame having reciprocatory movement, said weft feeding device including actuating mechanism having an arcuate rack member fixedly mounted upon the loom, a pinion carried upon the beater frame and mounted in the path of the arcuate rack member having teeth so that when the pinion engages the teeth of the arcuate rack member it is rotated, means for engaging the weft wire for feeding same.

across the warp wires, means responding to the rotation of the pinion for actuating the wire feeding means, and means for arresting the move ment of the pinion when the pinion disengages the rack teeth to thereby arrest the movement of.

the actuating mechanism.

13. A weft wire feeding device for use in a loom and-supporting means for loosely supporting the, end of the weft wire as it is fed across the warpwires during the feeding operation.

'14. A weft wire feeding device for use in a loom frame having reciprocatory having a beater movement, said weft feeding device including actuating mechanism having an arcuate rack member fixedly mounted upon the loom, a pinion carried upon the beater frame and mounted in the path of the arcuate rack member having teeth so that when the pinion engages the teeth of the arcuate rack member it is rotated, means for en gaging the weft wire for feeding same across the Warp wires, means responding to the rotation of the pinion for actuating the Wire feeding means, supporting means for loosely supporting the end of the weft wire as it is fed across the warp wires during the feeding operation, and means for actuating the supporting means in response to the movement of the beater frame.

15. A weft wire crimping and feeding device for" use in a loom having a beater frame having a reciprocatory movement, said weft wire crimping and feeding device including a pair of wire crimping wheels; mechanism for rotating the wheels during the initial advance movement of the beater" frame of the 10cm, said mechanism including an.

arcuate rack member fixedly mounted upon the loom, a pinion carried upon the beater frame and J mounted in the pathof the arcuate rack member having teeth so that when the pinion engages the: teeth of the arcuate rack member it is rotated,

s a cam guide arranged in aligned relation with respect to the rack member, a cam mounted for rotation with the pinion, said cam engaging the cam guide when the pinion 'disengages the rack teeth, and means responding to the rotation of the pinion for actuating the crimping wheels; means for arresting the movement of the crimping wheels before the beater frame reaches the advanced position; supporting means for loosely supporting the end of the Weft wire as it advances across the warp wires during the feeding operation; and means for actuating the supporting means in response to movement of the beater frame.

16. A weft wire crimping and feeding device for use'in a loom having a beater frame having a reciprocatory movement, said weft wire crimping-and feeding device including a pair of wire crimping wheels; mechanism for rotating the wheels during the initial advance movement of the beater frame of the loom, said mechanism including an arcuate rack member fixedly mounted upon the loom, a pinion carried upon,

the beater frame and mounted in the path of the arcuate rack member having teeth so that when the pinion engages the teeth of the arcuate rack member it is rotated, a cam guide arranged in aligned relation with respect to the rack member, a cam mounted for rotation with the pinion, said cam engaging the cam guide when the pinion disengages the rack teeth, and means responding to the rotation of the pinion for actuating the crimping wheels; means for arresting the movement of the crimping wheels before the beater frame reaches the advanced position; supporting means for loosely supporting the end of the weft wire as it advances across the warp wires during the feeding operation; a second rack having teeth, said second rack being fixedly attached to the loom; a second pinion mounted for rot-ation upon the beater frame, said second pinion being rotated when in engagement with the teeth of the second rack; and means responding to the rotation of the second pinion for actuating the supporting means for loosely supporting the end of the weft wire as it advances across the warp Wires.

- 17. A weft wire crimping and feeding device for use in a loom having a beater frame having a reciprocatory movement, said weft wire crimping and feeding device including a pair of Wire" crimping wheels; mechanism for rotating .the wheels during the initial advance movement of the beater frame of the loom, said mechanism including an arcuate rack member fixedly mounted upon the loom, a pinion carried upon' the beater frame and mounted in the path of the arcuate rack member having teeth so that when the pinion engages the teeth of the arcuate rack member it is rotated, a cam guide arranged in aligned relation with respect to the rack memher, a cam mounted for rotation with the pinion, said cam engaging the cam guide when the pinion disengages the rack teeth, and means responding to the rotation of the pinion for actuating the crimping wheels; means for arresting the movement of the crimping wheels before the beater frame reaches the advanced position; supporting means for loosely supporting the end of the weft wire as it advances across the warp wires during the feeding operation; a second rack having teeth, said second'rack being fixedly attached to the loom; a second pinion mounted for rotation upon rack; means responding to the rotation of the second pinion for actuating the supporting means for loosely supporting the end of the weft wire as it advances across the warp wires; a second cam guide arranged in aligned relation with respect to the second rack, and a second cam fixedly attached to the second pinion for engaging the second cam guide when the second pinion disengages the rack teeth for arresting the rotation thereof.

18. A mechanism for use with the manipulation of a weft wire used in a wire weaving loom having a beater frame having reciprocatory movement, said mechanism including rotatably mounted crimping members for engaging the weft wire, and means responsive only to the initial movement of the beater frame moving forward towards the fell for actuating said crimping members.

19. A mechanism for use in feeding a weft wire used in a wire weaving loom having a beater frame having reciprocatory movement, said mechanism including means for supporting the end of the weft wire, and means responsive only to the initial movement of the beater frame moving forward towards the fell for causing said first mentioned means to support the weft wire as it advances through the shed.

LOUIS J. ZERBEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

